It is the same jersey worn by the late double Olympic gold medallist in the now-iconic photo in which he grabs the jersey and screams in excitement after securing a 14-point lead over the Denver Nuggets in the second game of the National Basketball Association (NBA) Western Conference first round series.

"This jersey has influenced popular culture in a way that is seldom seen in the sports community, becoming iconic and synonymous with the image of Kobe Bryant," Sotheby’s said.

"The raw passion captured in the photos has inspired artists and designers all over the world … this jersey has been featured in countless murals and artworks depicting the late basketball sensation."

What also makes the jersey so rare is that Bryant signed the gear by writing his first name on the stitched number on the back.

"The jersey has become synonymous with Kobe's 'Mamba Mentality,'" Brahm Wachter, Sotheby's head of streetwear and modern collectibles, said.

"The fact that Kobe scored a total of 645 points over eight months in this jersey, in his only MVP season, is simply stunning."

Bryant averaged 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game that season and led the Lakers to the NBA Finals.

In 2008, he also won the first of his two Olympic gold medals as part of the United States squad in Beijing.

Bryant was also part of the US team that retained its title at London 2012.

If the jersey sells for the $5 to $7 million price Sotheby’s is estimating, it would be the highest price ever paid for a Bryant jersey, the auction house said.

The current record for the most expensive piece of Bryant memorabilia is a worn, autographed jersey from his rookie year in 1996-1997, which sold for $3.7 million (£3 million/€3.4 million) in 2021.

The only other jersey valued so highly is Michael Jordan's game-worn 1998 NBA finals "The Last Dance" jersey, which sold for $10.1 million (£8.3 million/€9.3 million) at a Sotheby's auction in September 2022.

Bryant died, along with his daughter Gianna and seven others, at the age of 41 in a helicopter crash in California in 2020.

Bryant's jersey will come with a collection of shoes, photos, artwork, books and more.

Other big ticket items are expected to be a pair of shoes he wore as a 21-yea-old in game four of the 2000 NBA Western Conferences Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers, a match where he scored 18 points.

They are estimated to sell for up to $60,000 (£49,000/€55,500).

The lot is due to open for bidding from February 2 until 9.

It will also be on public display at Sotheby's New York during the first week of February.